Rough running after head gasket job - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

epe · 02-12-2005, 12:27 PM

We just got done doing a head gasket job on my 91 toyota pup with 22re, and after working out some quirks, we got it running good... Well today while adjusting the engine idle speed screw, because it has the bad up and down idle, the truck started running bad, sounding like a helicopter, and only running on three cylinders. Any ideas On what I shoud look for? We adjusted the timing and everything the night before.. Just sounds like it is not running on all cylinders...shakes, etcs...

epe · 02-12-2005, 01:13 PM

I just read in the haynes manual that a wrong idle speed could do this.. So if I have it the screw wrong do you think that is what it could be?

nofear4189 · 02-12-2005, 02:32 PM

make sure you got the right screw. The idle screw is the one metal screw built into the intake. Thers is also a white plastic one, but thats for a vaccum or something. I just want to make you aware of that because i recently found myself trying to adjust the plastic one instead of the metal one... obviously not changing my idle.lol

Looks in the manual as see if it says the stock setting of the screw, and set it back to that and adjust if needed.

-Adam-

epe · 02-12-2005, 03:56 PM

I can not find the setting for it.. It just tells me the rpm... I have the metal one, and it does adjust it.. Truck just hesitates- stumbles through the whole rpm range...

alltrac165 · 02-13-2005, 05:45 PM

check all vacuum lines, check wiring connections to the injectors, plugs, wires, etc.
you could pull plug wires off one at a time and see if that changes how it runs. If you find one that doesnt change anything, check everything on that cylinder.

emmamom · 02-14-2005, 02:32 PM

I just had the head haskets on my 4runner replaced, and I am also having idling problems. we have checked all the vacuum lines, and switched some around. The mechanic said our knock sensor was bad. Would that have any thing to do with the idling problem?

YumaBill · 02-14-2005, 03:13 PM

Hi all
Anything happen to idle when break is pressed and held with motor running?
Check PCV operation and conections lots of stuff can get in there and clog during head install

in another post I stated that I had to change some clamps on the vacuume lines.
after not detecting leaks using the old WD 40 search.

emmamom · 02-14-2005, 05:50 PM

We just had the head gasket job done on our six cylinder. Now it is idling high and when you go to pass someone, the valves chatter, it also has a real bad miss after the engine gets warm. We had it put on the computer and the knock sensor is supposed to be bad. Would that knock sensor have anything to do with why it is running so rough? Where is the knock sensor located? Everyone we have talked to does not know.

tacojet · 02-14-2005, 06:26 PM

Double check that the timing chain is lined up right. You may be one tooth off.

My $ 0.02

jarrodH · 02-15-2005, 09:56 AM

im currently in the middle of timing chain/head gasket/valve repair myself. I hope i dont have idle problems when i get it back together!

This is just my thoughts, but, to get the head off, whether or not you follow the manual and take the manifolds off with the head, or disconnect the manifolds in the engine bay and take only the head out, either way there are alot of vacuum lines, wires and plugs that need to be disconnected from the manifold to get it off or out of the way. Like someone else said, double and even triple check your vacuum lines and how they are routed, make sure all your connectors near or underneath the intake manifold are plugged in too.

Also, this may sound stupid, but did you unplug any of your fuel injectors? If so, make sure they are all connected correctly. And also as suggested above, pulling off the spark plug wires one by one will not hurt either.

Good luck with it, let us know how it turns out.

emmamom · 02-23-2005, 08:29 AM

thanks to everyone who replied to my desperate questions. We found a man who works for toyota, and he said the $#&*$ that put our head gaskets in obviously did not know what he was doing. This is my understanding of what went wrong. After the heads were put back on, the knock sensor was basically getting strangled. There is a housing, or a route that the sensor wire is supposed to go to, and when he put the heads on, he compressed that wire and basically screwed everything up. If anyone else is having head problems, have a dealer or mechanic run your VIN. Our new mechanic said in certain instances, Toyota will replace your heads for free. This is my husband's vehicle. I think I will just stick with my Dodge.